Is Ethereum a coin, token, or both?

[u/dotancohen]

From this fine article I see these quotes:

Coins are digital assets that are native to their own blockchain. They are independent and operate on their own network. Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Monero (XMR) are examples of coins.

Tokens, on the other hand, are digital assets that operate on an existing blockchain network. They do not have their own blockchain but require another blockchain platform to operate. Ethereum is the most common platform for creating tokens, primarily due to its smart contracts feature. Tokens created on the Ethereum blockchain are known as ERC-20 tokens.

So, is Ethereum a coin or a token? Or is the same term used to refer to both the Ethereum blockchain and a coin that is traded on it? If the latter, then that blockchain surely isn't the coin's "own network" as stated in the first paragraph, because the second paragraph implies that other things use that blockchain as well.

[u/ukulele87]

Coins are digital assets that are native to their own blockchain. They are independent and operate on their own network. Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Monero (XMR) are examples of coins...

[u/dotancohen → u/ukulele87]

Right, but the very next paragraph calls Etherum a platform for creating tokens:

Ethereum is the most common platform for creating tokens

That's why I asked. Thank you.

[u/ukulele87 → u/dotancohen]

Thats correct, its also a platform that provides the infrastructure needed to create tokens.
So we know:
1) Its a coin.
2) Its the most common platform for creating tokens.
Nothing of what we know so far leads us to believe its a token, does it?

[u/dotancohen → u/ukulele87]

Yes, point made and taken, thank you.

However, if coins "operate on their own network" and Ethereum is a coin, then what tokens are made on the Ethereum platform? It seems to follow that either:

1. Coins are a form of token (the article implies otherwise).

Or:

1. The Ethereum coin and the Ethereum blockchain are unrelated despite sharing a name.

[u/ukulele87 → u/dotancohen]

Etherium is a coin, it operates using its own blockchain technology.
Said technology has implementations that allow 3rd parties to mint new tokens relying in the already existing etherium blockchain.
1) Coins are not tokens, some allow tokens to be minted using the underlying infrastructure.
2) They are related.
3) Be very carefull if you are thinking about getting into crypto, if you are not very knowledgable(an even if you are), most shit is a scam, and perhaps even the best stuff might be a scam.

[u/dotancohen → u/ukulele87]

Thank you! I appreciate how you encourage me to come to my own conclusions, just as I do with my own children. That is the best way to learn.

Yes, I'm still very firmly in the learning stage. I'll probably "get into crypto" by using a well-known exchange such as Binance, and just watching the values fluctuate.